'Tie Bhele to my back'

Amid the excitement about racial divisions in Bafana Bafana in Mali, Umkhozi forgot to tell an intriguing escapade that landed three Bafana Bafana players in serious trouble.

Amid the excitement about racial divisions in Bafana Bafana in Mali, Umkhozi forgot to tell an intriguing escapade that landed three Bafana Bafana players in serious trouble.

The team might have been divided but crime knows no racial or ethnic boundries.

Though different characteristics of various South African ethnic groups came forth, we will desist from referring to such.

Thabo Mngomeni, Siyabonga Nomvete and Bennet Mnguni smuggled a barrel of beer into a Muslim fundamentalist part of Segou village and they were sitting quaffing the stuff when police pounced and arrested them.

The trio were initially given a heavy jail sentence but, in the spirit of the Nations Cup, the sheikh decided they should be released after each received 20 lashes.

As they prepared for their punishment, the sheikh said: "It's my first wife's birthday today and she asked me to allow each of you one wish before whipping, but you cannot wish not to be whipped."

Mnguni thought for a second then said: "Please tie a pillow to my back before whipping." This was done but the pillow lasted 10 lashes.

Then it was Nomvete's turn: "Please tie two pillows to my back before whipping."

This was done and lasted for the whole 20 lashes.

Mngomeni was observing, but before he could make his wish, the sheikh said: "As you are from the Eastern Cape with all the poverty and you share the same ethnicity with the president of SA, you are permitted to have two wishes."

Mngomeni thought for a second, and said: "Thank you, most royal and merciful highness. My first wish is to receive 100 lashes with the strongest, toughest whip available."

"If you so desire," the sheikh replied with a questioning look on his face,